Magazine capacity reducer kit for repeating shotguns

ABSTRACT

A magazine kit for repeating shotguns which includes an extensible plug adapted to be readily inserted into and removed from the magazine of the shotgun. The kit serves to modify the magazine to facilitate loading and unloading of the magazine as well as to reduce the capacity when desired.

United States Patent 1191 Haines et al.

[ Dec. 11, 1973 1 1 MAGAZINE CAPACITY REDUCER KIT FOR REPEATING SHOTGUNS {75] Inventors: David E. I-Iaines, Fort Ashby; James D. Troutman, Keyser, both of W. Va.

[73] Assignee: James D. Troutman, Keyser, W. Va.

[22] Filed: June 30, 1972 121 App]. No.: 267,949

[52] U.S. Cl 42/49 A [51] Int. CL... F41c 25/08, F410 25/00, F41C 27/00 Field of Search 42/49 A, 49 R, 87, 42/88 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,787 5/1913 Simpson 42/49 A 1,148,297 7/1915 Dickey 42/49 R 2,026,252 12/1935 Russell et al 42/49 A 3,018,577 1/1962 La Violette, Jr...,... 42/49 R 3,399,481 9/1968 Giorgini 42/49 R Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Robert W. Carlson [57] ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUBEB 1 1 1915 N 9 LL MAGAZINE CAPACITY REDUCER KIT FOR REPEATING SIIOTGUNS This invention relates to a magazine kit for repeating shotguns and more particularly to a magazine kit for repeating shotguns which facilitates loading and un loading of the gun and also provides for greater safety in doing so.

In most states, restrictions as to the capacity of the magazines of repeating shotguns have been imposed for certain types of hunting. In many instances the capacity of the magazine must be reduced to a limited number of cartridges. It is not desirable to make such a reduction in magazine capacity by permanently altering the magazine.

It has become conventional to provide devices; commonly referred to as plugs, which may be inserted into the magazine of the shotgun which reduce the capacity. One such known plug is illustrated in Russell et al. US. Pat. No. 2,026,252. While serving the basic function many undesirable features may be attributed to the conventional plugs. In most cases they are not very readily inserted into the magazine.

A further feature of the repeating shotgun which presents a real danger resides in the manner in which the magazine is emptied of live cartridges. In order to empty the magazine, it is necessary to load the cartridge into the firing chamber and thereafter eject the cartridge. Each time a live cartridge is in the firing chamber, there is the hazard of the gun being accidentally fired.

It is not uncommon that a hunter must unload his magazine frequently during a day of hunting. The law requires that the gun must be empty when being transported in a vehicle. Therefore, if one decides to hunt an. area some distance from where he has been hunting and chooses to drive to such area, he must empty his gun. This not only exposes him to the danger mentioned above, but unloading the gun is not a quick and easy procedure. When the cartridges are ejected from the firing chamber, they fly out at random and frequently drop to the ground.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a kit for shotguns to overcome these problems.

It is another object of this invention to provide a kit which includes a plug for repeating shotguns which is readily insertedinto and removed from the magazine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a kit for repeating shotguns which modifies the magazine to facilitate loading and unloading.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily understood with the following description and reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG; 1 is a prospective view of the invention and a partial view of the shotgun in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is side elevational view partially in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one end of the device; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a modification of the invention.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, the kit includes an extensible plug 12 comprised of'a first hollow cylinder 14 closed at its one end 16 and open at its other end 18. The cylinder 14 is telescopically received in a second hollow cylinder 20.

The cylinder 20 is provided adjacent one end 22 with an inwardly extending flange 24 which cooperates with an annular flange 26 extending outwardly of the cylinder 14 adjacent the end 18. The diameter of the opening defined by the inwardly extending flange 24 is slightly larger than the external diameter of the cylinder l4 and the outer diameter of the flange 26 is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the cylinder 20. In this manner the cylinder 14 may slide freely within the cylinder 20.

A coil spring 28 is housed in the cavities of the two cylinders in a manner to urge the cylinder 14 outwardly of the cylinder 20.

The free end of the cylinder 20 is closed by an end cap 30 which may be welded or otherwise securely attached thereto.

In order to maintain the plug 12 in the magazine of the shotgun, latching means are provided on the end cap 30.

A pair of latches 32 and 34 are pivotally mounted on U-shaped brackets 36 and 38 by pins 40 and 42. The brackets 36 and 38 may be formed as an integral part of the end cap 30 or secured thereto by any suitable method.

The latches 32 and 34 are urged into gripping position by plugs 44 and 46 slidably housed in a bore 48 extending diametrically through the end cap 30 and urged outwardly therefrom by a spring 50.

In most instances the outer surface of the end of the shotgun magazine does not have any protuberances to be engaged by the latches 32 and 34. The kit therefore includes a locking ring 52 having an annular groove 54 therein which receives the ends of the latches 32 and 34.

The locking ring 52 is provided with threads 56 for engagement with the conventional threads on the end of the magazine.

When the extensible plug is to be inserted into the shotgun magazine, the conventional end cap of the magazine is unscrewed and the cartridge follower and spring are removed from the magazine. The locking ring 52 is then substituted for the conventional end cap by screwing it onto the end of the magazine. The member 12 is then inserted fully into the magazine until the latches 32 and 34 engage the groove 54 thereby securing the unit in place.

If desired the cartridges C may be inserted through the open end of the magazine, before inserting the unit, thus facilitating loading of the magazine. It will now be readily apparent, that when it is desired to unload live cartridges from the magazine it is necessary only to remove the unit 12 by pivoting the latches 32 and 34 clear of the groove 54. The live cartridges are then free to slide out of the open end of the magazine. Quite obviously this is one of the distinct advantages of this invention. The live cartridges may be safely and easily removed.

In the modification shown in FIG. 4, the latching means for maintaining the unit 12 in the magazine is different but the remaining structure is identical to that described above.

In this embodiment, the end cap 30' is provided with stationary lugs 60. The locking ring 52' is threadably engaged with the magazine and is provided with .I- shaped slots 62. The unit 12 is inserted into the magazine with the lugs entering the J-shaped slots until they reach the bottom of the slot and the unit is rotated and released. The spring 28 will urge the unit outwardly thus engaging and securing the lugs 60 in the short legs of the J-shaped slots.

Additionally with the unit in place in the magazine, the capacity thereof is reduced to comply with the law. With the present invention there is no need for any modification of the shotgun as manufactured. The kit includes all necessary items to modify the magazine of 5 most repeating shotguns.

The overall length of the plug 12 when the cylinder 14 is retracted fully within the cylinder is made to correspond to the length of the number of cartridges desired to be replaced.

What is claimed is:

1. A kit for modifying a repeating shotgun having a tubular magazine closed at one end with a cap comprising a locking ring adapted to replace the conventional end cap of the magazine, an extensible plug adapted to be inserted into the magazine, and releasable latch means on said plug for securing said plug in said magazine.

2. A kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch means are mounted on one end of said plug and engage said locking ring when said plug is inserted in said magazine.

3. A kit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said extensible plug comprises a first hollow cylinder telescopically receiving a second hollow cylinder and spring means urging said second cylinder out of said first cylinder.

4. A kit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking ring includes a groove to receive said latch means.

5. A kit as set forth in claim 4 wherein said locking ring is threaded for attachment to the shotgun magazine and is provided with an opening to permit insertion of the extensible plug therethrough.

6. A kit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking ring includes slots to receive said latch means. 

1. A kit for modifying a repeating shotgun having a tuBular magazine closed at one end with a cap comprising a locking ring adapted to replace the conventional end cap of the magazine, an extensible plug adapted to be inserted into the magazine, and releasable latch means on said plug for securing said plug in said magazine.
 2. A kit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch means are mounted on one end of said plug and engage said locking ring when said plug is inserted in said magazine.
 3. A kit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said extensible plug comprises a first hollow cylinder telescopically receiving a second hollow cylinder and spring means urging said second cylinder out of said first cylinder.
 4. A kit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking ring includes a groove to receive said latch means.
 5. A kit as set forth in claim 4 wherein said locking ring is threaded for attachment to the shotgun magazine and is provided with an opening to permit insertion of the extensible plug therethrough.
 6. A kit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking ring includes slots to receive said latch means. 